Astroneer is a huge survival game that allows the player to roam around planets within a solar system. While the game does not have a solid storyline, there are many elements to the game such as building, crafting, exploration, and gathering resources. A few important elements to begin the Astroneer journey involves researching and obtaining bytes, which is the virtual currency. One of the main ways to collect bytes is through researching samples and materials on the planet. Bytes are then used to craft technology that help further explore the planet or launch into space to find a new home.
When starting in Astroneer, players automatically start on one of the seven planets in the solar system, Sylva. However, many tend to focus on where they will be going next to find their forever home. Each has its own resources that could be beneficial to your growth as well as potential hazards that could set you back. While most have common resources such as compound and resin that will help players get started, there are other materials needed to advance gameplay.
Updated on July 14, 2022 by Nikole Brinkman: Choosing the right planet to fit players needs can be difficult, especially since some resources can be sprawled out on various planets, however, there are always pros and cons to the choices players make in video games. Taking a leap to neighboring environments can start to be a routine venture for some, while others would rather stay where they are for longer time frames.
No matter what players choose, it's ideal for players to try and pick the right choice. And with more and more players joining this fun, open-world, exploration game, it's best to update any information that might aide players in finding the best option for them.
7 Novus
- Day/Night Cycle: 3.5 Minutes
- Size: Small
- Difficulty: Medium
- Resources: Hematite, Lithium
- Gases: Hydrogen, Methane
- Sun: High
- Wind: High
- Bytes Range: 70- 1180 each sample
The moon of Vesania is an exotic planet with a quick day/night cycle. Due to the cycle, wind power is usually preferred to solar, however both are present so powering bases won't be difficult. There are resources such as Lithium in the mountains and Hematite (iron) in the caves, as well as flora which can be sampled and used for research.
While there are some higher valued resources, most are found on the surface rather than below ground, therefore don’t offer as many bytes. The less-common materials like Lithium and Ammonium make Novus good for a quick stop to restock on fuel and batteries, and then get ready to move on to the next planet.
6 Atrox
- Day/Night Cycle: 20 Minutes
- Size: Medium
- Difficulty: Very Hard
- Gases: Helium, Methane, Nitrogen, Sulfur
- Sun: Low
- Wind: Low
- Bytes Range: 70-1187 each sample
The closest body to the star, Atrox is a radiated planet covered in poisonous fog and hazardous plant life. While the fog does not harm you, it is created to mask any resources that could be found such as Clay and Laterite.The fog obscures the light of the star; therefore, wind and solar power are slim here. For those looking to make a decent base here with some power, they should look to generators and RTGs to help power tools.
The terrain is not difficult to maneuver, however many plants can cause harm. This is the most challenging planet, but there is a chance that players could extract high valued samples to research. Note that Atrox is the only planet that requires gas to activate its core.
5 Calidor
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- Day/Night Cycle: 13.5 Minutes
- Size: Medium
- Difficulty: Medium
- Resources: Malachite, Wolframite
- Gases: Hydrogen, Sulfur
- Sun: Very High
- Wind: Low
- Bytes Range: 750-5,900 each sample
This arid world is the second planet from the star, creating a desert terrain, meaning solar powers are perfect for this world. Calidor holds Malachite in caves and Wolframite on the mountains, with plants that are typical of a desert.
While the terrain is easy to maneuver, not creating any dangers while exploring, it does not have many high-valued resources. This is the perfect place to grind for hours. Players can explore within caves for quick value items that will gradually grow your bytes.
4 Sylva
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- Day/Night Cycle: 12 Minutes
- Size: Medium
- Difficulty: Easy
- Resources: Sphalerite, Malachite
- Gases: Hydrogen, Nitrogen
- Sun: Medium
- Wind: Medium
- Bytes Range: 400-720 each sample
The starting planet in the game, this Terran world is noted to be ‘Earth-like’ with its plains, mountains, forests, and canyons. Sylva has a wide range of resources because of the various biomes, Malachite in the mountains and Sphalerite in caves.
There is an ample number of samples and items to research, so gathering bytes would not be too hard. Sylva contains most of the basic resources while having easy wind and solar power. Because of how balanced it is, it's easy to use solar panels, wind turbines and generators to keep a base going. While many tend to want to separate themselves from the staring location, Sylva can be a great place to hold camp if players are looking for a comfortable, easy home.
3 Glacio
- Day/Night Cycle: 20 Minutes
- Size: Medium
- Difficulty: Hard
- Resources: Titanite, Hematite
- Gases: Argon
- Sun: Very Low
- Wind: Very High
- Bytes Range: 100-6,300 each sample
The furthest in the solar system, Glacio’s frozen tundra is covered in tall glaciers with steep drops of ice plains and only a few hot spots that contain life. It has a specific source of Hematite on the surface and Titanite in caves.
Glacio has one of the highest valued organic materials to help collect bytes. With an abundance of surface material, having a rover and exploring the planet makes it easily accessible to obtain what you need here.
2 Vesania
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- Day/Night Cycle: 13.5 Minutes
- Size: Medium
- Difficulty: Medium
- Resources: Lithium, Titanite
- Gases: Hydrogen, Argon, Nitrogen
- Sun: Low
- Wind: High
- Bytes Range: 1,000-5,000 each sample
This exotic planet is made with densely forested hills and an abundance of plant life. Its moon, Novus, orbits very close, meaning travel between the two can be easily accessible. Some specific resources include Lithium in the caves and Titanite in mountains. There are higher valued materials to collect that can help grow your bytes.
While the terrain can be difficult to maneuver, the worth of stocking up on fuel and batteries is worth the risk. A research chamber is suggested if players want the most bang for the byte.
1 Desolo
- Day/Night Cycle: 1 Minute, 55 Seconds
- Size: Small
- Difficulty: Easy
- Resources: Wolframite, Sphalerite
- Sun: High
- Wind: Low
- Bytes Range: 2,500-12,000 technological research
The small Terran moon of Sylva is known for its rocky and barren body, which is why many players call it the “Barren Moon”. Despite this name, this moon does offer plenty of metals. Laterite and Wolframite can be found in caves and Sphalerite in the mountains. Flora covers the craters as well as scattered debris with Ammonium and Malachite can be found near shuttle landing sites.
The technological research here has a high value which means earning bytes can be easy. Since Desolo's planet, Sylva, is so close, it’s easy to go between the bodies without using much fuel.
Astroneer is available on Windows PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.